Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Erythropoietin in 29 men during and after prolonged physical stress combined with food and fluid deprivation

  • Original Article
  • Published:
European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The study investigated the influence of prolonged physical stress during survival training with food and fluid deprivation on the serum concentrations of erythropoietin (EPO). A group of 29 male subjects [mean age 22.2 (SD 2.8) years, height 1.78 (SD 0.06) m, and body mass (m b) 73.5 (SD 8.6) kg] were studied for 5 days of multifactorial stress including restricted water intake (1] H2O · day−1) and food intake (628 kJ day−1) combined with physical exercise (estimated energy expenditure approximately 24 000 kJ · day−1) and sleep deprivation (20h within 5 days). Blood samples were taken before (T1), after 72 h (T2) and 120h (T3) of physical stress, and after 48h, (T4) and 72 h (T5) of recovery. The samples were analysed for EPO, and concentrations of serum iron (Fe), haptoglobin (Hapto), transferrin (Trans), ferritin (Fer), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV). The m b had decreased by 6.77 kg at T3 (P <0.01) and 0.68 kg at T5. The EPO and Hapto decreased during the survival training (P <0.01) and increased during the recovery period (P <0.01). The Fe increased during the survival training (P <0.01) and remained above the control concentrations during recovery (P <0.01). The Hapto decreased during the survival training (P <0.01) and remained below control concentration at T4 and T5 (P <0.01). The Trans decreased continuously over the week (P <0.01). The Fer increased during the survival training (P <0.01) and returned to control concentration at T5. The Hb increased from T1 to T2 (P <0.01) and had decreased significantly at T5 (P <0.01). The PCV increased from T1 to T2 (P <0.01) and remained below control levels afterwards (P <0.01). From our study it was concluded that, in humans, prolonged physical stress with food and fluid deprivation induces a marked EPO decrease, which is followed by a rapid increase during recovery to restore the reduced OZ transport capacity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adamson JW (1994) Iron and erythropoiesis. In: Bauer C et al (eds) Erythropoietin. Decker, New York; pp 161–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Aakvaag A, Sand T, Opstad PK, Fonnum F (1978) Hormonal changes in serum in young men during prolonged physical strain. Eur J Appl Physiol 39:283–291

    Google Scholar 

  • Anagnostou A, Schade S, Ashkinaz M, Barone J, Fried W (1977) Effect of protein deprivation on erthropoiesis. Blood 50:1093–1097

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beran M, Spitzer G, Verma DS (1882) Testosterone and synthetic androgens improve the in vitro survival of human marrow progenitor cells in serum-free suspension cultures. J Lab Clin Med 99:247–253

    Google Scholar 

  • Bethard WF, Wissler RW, Thompson JS, Schroeder MA, Robson MJ (1958) The effect of acute protein deprivation upon erythropoiesis in rats. Blood 13:216–225

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bleiberg I, Perah G, Feldman M (1973) Effect of testosterone on the formation of erythroid spleen colonies from fetal liver precursor cells. Blood 41:285–291

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caro J, Silver R, Erslev AJ, Miller OP, Birgegard G (1981) Erythropoietin in fasted rats. Effects of thyroid hormones and glucose supplementation. J Lab Clin Med 98:860–868

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Catchatourian R, Eckerling G, Fried W (1980) Effect of short-term protein deprivation on hematopoietic functions of healthy volunteers. Blood 55:625–628

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Clement DB, Asmundson RC (1982) Nutritional intake and hematological parameters in endurance runners. Physician Sports Med 10:37–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Clement DB, Sawchuk LL (1984) Iron status and sports performance. Sports Med 1:65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook J (1982) Clinical evaluation of iron deficiency. Sem Hematol 19:6–18

    Google Scholar 

  • De Paoli Vitali E, Guglielmini C, Casoni I, Vedovato M, Gilli P, Farinelli A, Salvatorelli G, Conconi F (1988) Serum erythropoietin in cross-country-skiers. Int J Sports Med 9:99–101

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dressendorfer RH, Wade CE, Amsterdam EA (1981) Development of pseudoanemia in marathon runners during a 20-day road race. J Am Med Assoc 246:1215–1218

    Google Scholar 

  • Dufaux B, Hoederath A, Streitberger I, Hollmann W, Assmann G (1981) Serum ferritin, transferrin, haptoglobin, and iron in middle- and long-distance runners, elite rowers, professional racing cyclists. Int J Sports Med 2:43–46

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gunga H-C, Kirsch K, Röcker L (1994) Central venous pressure and erthropoietin after spaceflight. Aviat Space Environ Med 65:274

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunga H-C, Kirsch K, Molz B, Heyduck B, Röcker L, Effects of microgravity on erythropoietin, thyroid hormones and plasma proteins in four astronauts. Proceedings of the Norderney symposium on the scientific results of the German Spacelab Mission D-2. (March 14–16, 1994) WPF, Cologne, pp 738–742.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinrich HC, Burggemann J, Gabbe EE, Glaser M (1977) Correlation between diagnostic Fe-absorption and serum ferritin concentration in man. Z Naturforsch 32:1023–1025

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunding A, Jordal R, Paulev PE (1981) Runner's anemia and iron deficiency. Acta Med Scand 209:315–318

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jelkmann W (1992) Erythropoietin: structure, control of production, and function. Physiol Rev 72:449–489

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jelkmann W, Kurtz A, Bauer C (1983) Effects of fasting on the hypoxia-induced erythropoietin production in rats. Pflügers Arch 396:174–175

    Google Scholar 

  • Keller H (1991) Klinisch-chemische Labordiagnostik für die Praxis. Thieme, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Leach CS, Johnson PC, Cintron NM (1988) The endocrine system in space flight. Acta Astronaut 17:161–166

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Leonard JI, Leach CS, Rambaut PC (1983) Quantitation of tissue loss during prolonged space flight. Am J Clin Nutr 38:667–679

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindemann R, Ekanger R, Opstad PK, Nummestad M, Ljosland R (1978) Hematological changes in normal men during prolonged severe exercise. Am Correct Ther J 32:107–111

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lipschitz DA, Cook JD, Finch CA (1974) A clinical evaluation of serum ferritin as an index of iron stores. N Engl J Med 290:1213–1216

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magazanik A, Weinstein Y, Dlin RA, Derin M, Schwartzman S, A1lalouf D (1988) Iron deficiency caused by 7 weeks of intensive physical exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 57:198–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Malgor LA, Blanc CC, Klainer E, Irizar SE, Torales PR, Barrios L (1975) Direct effects of thyroid hormones on bone marrow erythroid cells of rats. Blood 45:671–679

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Miller BJ, Pate RR, Burgess W (1988) Foot imapct force and intravascular hemolysis during distance running. Int J Sports Med 9:56–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller ME, Cronkite EP, Garcia IF (1982) Plasma levels of immunoreactive erythropoietin after acute blood loss in man. Br J Haematol 52:545–549

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nicogossian AE, Leach C, Pool SL (1989) Space physiology and medicine. Lea and Fiebiger, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Opstad PK, Aakvaag A (1981) The effect of a high calorie diet on hormonal changes in young men during prolonged physical strain and sleep deprivation. Eur J Appl Physiol 46:31–39

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Toole ML, Hiller DB, Roalstad MS, Douglas PS (1988) Hemolysis during triathlon races: its relation to race distance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 20:272–275

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pate RR (1983) Sports anemia: a review of the current research literature. Phys Sportsmed 11:115–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Pattini A, Schena F, Guidi GC (1990) Serum ferritin and serum iron changes after cross-country and roller ski endurance races. Eur J Appl Physiol 61:55–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Reed RE (1974) The effect of corticotropin on mouse spleen colony-forming cells. Blood 44:393–398

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reissmann KR (1964) I. The anemia of protein deprivation. Blood 23:137–145

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rocker L, Laniado M, Kirsch KA (1983). The effect of physical exercise on plasma volume and red blood cell mass. In: Dunn CDR (ed) Current concepts in erythropoiesis. Wiley New York, pp 245–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Röcker L, Kirsch KA, Molz B, Heyduck B, Gunga H-C (1993) Einfluß der Mikrogravitation auf volumenregulierende Hormone und Plasmaproteine. Jahrb Öster Alpin Höhenmed 1993:157–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg ME, Howe RB, Zanjani ED, Hostetter TH (1989) The response of erythropoietin to dietary protein in human renal disease. J Lab Clin Med 113:735–742

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt W (1988) Erythropoietin und Sport — Grundlagen und Meinungen. Sportmed 41:304–312

    Google Scholar 

  • Schobersberger W, Tschann M, Hasibender W, Steidl M, Herold M, Nachbauer W, Koller A (1990) Consequences of 6 weeks of strength training on red cell O2 transport and iron status. Eur J Appl Physiol 60:163–168

    Google Scholar 

  • Schwandt HJ, Heyduck B, Gunga HC, Rocker L (1991) Influence of prolonged physical exercise on the erythropoietin concentration in blood. Eur J Appl Physiol 63:463–466

    Google Scholar 

  • Seber GAF (1977) Linear regression analysis. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Sytkowski AJ, Kessler CJ (1984) The β-adrenergic adenylate cyclase complex of Rauscher murine erythroleukemia cells and its response to erythropoietin-induced differentiation. Blood 64:84–90

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vedovato M, De Paoli Vitali E, Guglielmini C, Casoni I, Ricci G, Masotti M (1988) Erthropoietin in athletes of endurance events. Nephron 48:78–79

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vidnes A, Opstad PK (1981) Serum ferritin in young men during prolonged heavy physical exercise. Scand J Haematol 27:165–170

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wittels P, Rosenmayr G, Bischof B, Hartter E, Haber P (1994) Aerobic fitness and sympatho-adrenal response to short-term psycho-emotional stress under field conditions. Eur J Appl Physiol 68:418–424

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, D-14195, Berlin, Germany

    H.-C. Gunga, L. Röcker & K. Kirsch

  2. Research Study Group on Physical Performance, Army Hospital Brünnerstraße 238, A-1210, Vienna, Austria

    P. Wittels & B. Kanduth

  3. Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Arnimallee 22, D-14195, Berlin, Germany

    T. Günther & J. Vormann

Authors
  1. H.-C. Gunga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Wittels
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. T. Günther
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. B. Kanduth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J. Vormann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. L. Röcker
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. K. Kirsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gunga, HC., Wittels, P., Günther, T. et al. Erythropoietin in 29 men during and after prolonged physical stress combined with food and fluid deprivation. Europ. J. Appl. Physiol. 73, 11–16 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262804

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00262804

Key words

Search

Navigation